variants
also ascetical
as in monastic
formal
relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure
He committed to having an ascetic existence during his rehab. an ascetic diet of rice and beans
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Dissimilar Words
as in prude
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ascetic
Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
But there are certain periods of life where saving is much harder, and the temptation is to live an ascetic lifestyle, scrimp, and deny yourself all joys.
—NPR, 25 Nov. 2025
Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Adjective
The fantastical park resembles a theatre set, rife with spiritual allegory and modeled on an ascetic’s dream of utopia.
—Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
But there are certain periods of life where saving is much harder, and the temptation is to live an ascetic lifestyle, scrimp, and deny yourself all joys.
—NPR, 25 Nov. 2025
Noun
With a few edits, the book could pass for an anarchist tract; with a few more, for the work of a Christian ascetic.
—Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascetic
Adjective
-
The spa preserves the monastic tradition of herbal medicine, reflecting the balanced relationship between ora et labora ('pray and work' in Latin), or between being active and resting.—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Wood is one of 2026’s biggest interior trends—and central to the monastic look.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, the prudes among us might need hand fans.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Give the Original ‘Twister’ a Spin Barbara Peeters is no prude.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
19 July 2024
Adjective
-
Rezwan Shahriar Sumit’s Master, tracing the rise of a teacher drawn into local politics in Bangladesh and moving from idealism to authoritarian impulses, won the Big Screen Competition.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
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What is unique in this moment is how aggressively one political party is leveraging this and the ends to which it is being used, which is to overthrow democracy and to install an authoritarian regime.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Good student, good football player, straight arrow.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Jan. 2026
-
There’s often some kind of hitch, but still, most agents are straight arrows who play by the book.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
That Melania has very exacting taste in blouse necklines?—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In reality, expectations have become more exacting as the operating environment has fundamentally changed.—
Pam Kaur,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When rumors about her husband begin to circulate, Rulla is forced to confront uncomfortable questions that challenge her beliefs, resilience and commitment, putting her personal life under an unrelenting spotlight.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
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That extends to the roving, untethered movement of David Raedeker’s camera, capturing both the austere beauty and the overbuilt tackiness of the setting in bleachy, unrelenting sunlight, and to the film’s varied, agitated electro soundtrack from former A-Ha keyboardist Erik Ljunggren.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Democrats, however, remain adamant that verbal assurances are no longer enough.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The club were adamant that any January signing would be made with a view towards the long-term, rather than opting for a short-term fix, but the injury to Jeremie Frimpong, which left Liverpool without a fit right-back, did alter that.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In an age of algorithmic din, Feldman’s appeal lies in his unhurried, monkish devotion to the elementals of sound.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
And also there is something a little bit, the word that comes to mind is almost monkish.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ascetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascetic. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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